Devotionals by Dr. James Dobson
LOVE THE LORD
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” Mark 12:30
I (JCD) will never forget the day I took my daughter, Danae, then four, for a bicycle ride. Neither of us realized at the time that I had positioned her new passenger seat too close to the front wheel. We were flying down the road when Danae thrust her foot into the spokes. In a terrifying instant, both of us were thrown to the pavement; Danae’s tooth was knocked loose and her foot bloodied.
Kneeling over my wounded child after that accident was one of the most painful experiences of my life. Danae remembers it vividly as well. She later wrote, “My father gathered me in his arms and ran to the house. He cried as he ran, saying over and over, ‘Babe, I’m so sorry I hurt you!’ The tenderness of my father on that distressing afternoon has come to symbolize his love for me through the years.” Apparently, in the agony of those moments, Danae realized—perhaps for the first time—just how precious she is to me and how deeply I care about her. It was one of her first pictures of how much God loves her, too.
Are your children learning about the love of God through your love for them? Are they learning to talk about the Lord, to include Him in their thoughts and plans, to turn to Jesus when they are anxious or lonely? The best way to encourage intimacy between your kids and the Lord is to demonstrate His love in their lives each day.
Before you say good night…
- Are you modeling God’s love and tenderness to your kids each day?
- How can you help them understand the love of God?
Father, we understand that the best way to teach our children to love You and serve You is to love and serve You ourselves. Forgive us for the times we’ve hurt our kids, and show us the path that will bring us closer to You. Amen.
• Danae Dobson quote from What My Parents Did Right, compiled and edited by Gloria Gaither (Nashville, Tenn.: Star Song Publishing Group, 1991).
Listen to today's broadcast of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk at OnePlace.com. For more from Dr. Dobson, visit the resource center at drjamesdobson.org.
This devotional is taken from Night Light for Parents. Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
About Family Talk
Family Talk is a Christian non-profit organization located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2010 by Dr. James Dobson, the ministry promotes and teaches biblical principles that support marriage, family, and child-development. Since its inception, Family Talk has served millions of families with broadcasts, monthly newsletters, feature articles, videos, blogs, books and other resources available on demand via its website, mobile apps, and social media platforms.
The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI) is a Christian non-profit organization located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded initially as Family Talk in 2010 by Dr. James Dobson, the ministry promotes and teaches biblical principles that support marriage, family, and child-development. Since its inception, Family Talk has served families with broadcasts, monthly newsletters, feature articles, videos, blogs, books, and other resources available on demand via its website, mobile apps, and social media platforms. In 2017, the ministry rebranded under JDFI to expand its four core ministry divisions consisting of Family Talk, the Dobson Policy and Education Centers, and the Dobson Digital Library.
Dr. Dobson's flagship program, "Family Talk," is aired on more than 1,300 terrestrial radio outlets and numerous digital channels that reach millions of people each month.
About Dr. James Dobson
Dr. James Dobson is the Founder and President of Family Talk, a nonprofit organization that produces his radio program, "Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk." He is the author of more than 30 books dedicated to the preservation of the family, including The New Dare to Discipline, Love for a Lifetime, Life on the Edge, Love Must Be Tough, The New Strong-Willed Child, When God Doesn't Make Sense, Bringing Up Boys, Marriage Under Fire, Bringing Up Girls, Head Over Heels and, most recently, Your Legacy: The Greatest Gift.
Dr. Dobson served as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine for 14 years and on the attending staff of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles for 17 years. He has been active in governmental affairs and has advised five U.S. presidents on family matters. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California (1967) in the field of child development. He holds 17 honorary doctoral degrees, and was inducted in 2008 into The National Radio Hall of Fame. Dr. Dobson recently received the following awards: Winston Churchill Lifetime Achievement Award from the Faith & Freedom Coalition (2017), Daniel Award from AZ Christian University (2016), and the Defender of Life Award from the Justice Foundation (2015).
Dr. Dobson is married to Shirley and they have two grown children, Danae and Ryan, and two grandchildren. The Dobsons reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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